Cardi B’s Rollercoaster Year: From Megahits to Becoming a Mom to Black Tie Brawls

From massive hits to motherhood, black-tie brawls to Super Bowl spots, Cardi B has had a rollercoaster year. Look back at every single thing that happened ahead of her appearance at the Grammys

Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper for “Shallow” from “A Star

It’s been a wild year for Invasion of Privacy rapper Cardi B, who made headlines with multiple Billboard Top 10 hits and subsequent Grammy nominations – and stayed in them, thanks to everything from relationship drama to explosive feuds with other music industry powerhouses.

Before she arrives at the 61st annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, at which she’s nominated for five awards including album of the year, take a look back at her unprecedented year in the spotlight.

Cardi bluntly shut down rumors she was expecting a baby after sharing a video of herself dancing on Instagram got fans talking. “Is there maybe a Kylie Jenner secret that we need to know about lol Just asking,” a fan commented on the clip, implying that the rapper looked pregnant.

“No bitch I’m just getting fat. Let me fat in peace,” the star replied. (Cardi would go on to welcome a daughter in July.)

February 2018: Starring in a Super Bowl Commercial

The star made a splash in a spot that aired during the 2018 showdown between the Philadelphia Eagles and the New England Patriots.

The Amazon ad, in which the rapper replaces smart home speaker voice Alexa, ended up ranking the highest of the night among consumers and marketing experts. (In 2019, she went two for two: She brought her signature “Okurrrr” catchphrase to a giant Pepsi promo.)

Fashion Nova x Cardi B Collaboration Launch Event - Inside
STEFANIE KEENAN/GETTY IMAGES

Cameras captured Cardi grooving to her own hit song, “Bartier Cardi,” while watching the Feb. 18 game from her court-side seat.

It was, once again, a perfectly meme-able moment from the star.

February 2018: Standing by Offset Amid Infidelity Rumors
Speaking to Cosmopolitan, she opened up about the pressure to leave her partner as rumors swirled that he’d cheated.

Jeremy Scott show, Front Row, Spring Summer 2019, New York Fashion Week, USA - 06 Sep 2018
SWAN GALLET/WWD/REX/SHUTTERSTOCK

“It’s like everybody is coming down my neck like, ‘Why are you not leaving him? You have low self-esteem.’ I don’t have low self-esteem … I know I look good. I know I’m rich, I know I’m talented,” she said. “I know I could get any man I want — any basketball player, football player. But I want to work out my s— with my man, and I don’t got to explain why. I’m not your property. This is my life … I’m going to take my time, and I’m going to decide on my decision … It’s not right, what he f—ing did — but people don’t know what I did, ’cause I ain’t no angel.”